This is a photograph of the gate at Nijo-jo, a massive castle in the center of Toyko built by the Tokugawa Shogunate in the early 1600s. Like much of Kyoto, parts of it have been rebuilt time and time again.

It's still a fascinating sight - the building and architecture were engineered for social control, with sitting rooms and sections laid out hierarchically - but maybe the most interesting thing about it were its "nightingale floors," paneled floors built to squeak like birds when walked over to protect the castle inhabitants from sneaking invaders. They still work.

On our way out, I passed this gate and was struck by all the texture - it seemed a monolith, an impressive sentinel guarding its charge through time. Enjoy (click for a larger file).

The Massive Gate at Nijo Castle, Kyoto (1/40 sec, f/3.5, Canon EF 28-105 at 28mm, ISO 400)